Dell 3100, E310 User Manual

Download

Dell™ Dimension™ 3100/E310

Owner’s Manual

Service Tag

CD or DVD activity light

FlexBay for optional floppy drive or Media Card Reader

headphone connector

diagnostic lights

cover latch release

CD or DVD eject button

USB 2.0 connectors (2)

1234

hard drive activity light

power button

power connector

sound-card connectors

USB 2.0 connectors (4)

card slots for PCI (2), PCI Express x1 (1)

Model DCSM

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

network adapter

VGA video connector (integrated)

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the

problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

If you purchased a Dell™ n Series computer, any references in this document to Microsoft® Windows® operating systems are not applicable.

____________________

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge, P owerV ault, P owerApp,

DellNet, and PowerConnect are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft, Windows, and Outlook are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model DCSM

September 2006 P/N DD137 Rev. A03

Contents

Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

1 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Setting Up a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Printer Cable

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Connecting a USB Printer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Connecting to the Internet

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Playing CDs and DVDs

Adjusting the Volume Adjusting the Picture

Copying CDs and DVDs

How to Copy a CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs Helpful Tips

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter Network Setup Wizard

Power Management

Standby Mode Hibernate Mode Power Options Properties

About RAID Configurations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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Using RAID with Hard Drive Passwords RAID Level 1 Configuring Your Computer for RAID

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel

RAID Option ROM Utility

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Contents 3

Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Hyper-Threading

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

2 Solving Problems

Troubleshooting Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Battery Problems

Drive Problems

CD and DVD drive problems Hard drive problems

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages

Media Card Reader Problems

Keyboard Problems

Lockups and Software Problems

The computer does not start up The computer stops responding A program stops responding A program crashes repeatedly A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system A solid blue screen appears Other software problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

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4 Contents

Memory Problems

Mouse Problems

Network Problems

Power Problems

Printer Problems

Scanner Problems

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Sound and Speaker Problems

No sound from speakers No sound from headphones

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Video and Monitor Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

If the screen is blank If the screen is difficult to read

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

3 Advanced Troubleshooting

Diagnostic Lights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Dell Diagnostics

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Drivers

What Is a Driver? Identifying Drivers Reinstalling Drivers

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft Using Dell™ PC Restore by Symantec Removing Dell PC Restore

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Windows® XP System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

4 Removing and Installing Parts

Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Recommended Tools Turning Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer

Front View of the Computer

Back View of the Computer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Removing the Computer Cover

Inside View of Your Computer

System Board Components

Memory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

DDR2 Memory Overview Installing Memory Removing Memory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Contents 5

Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Drive Panels

Drives

Hard Drive

Floppy Drive

Media Card Reader

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Removing the Drive Panel Removing the Drive-Panel Insert Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert Replacing the Drive Panel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

IDE Drive Addressing Connecting Drive Cables Drive Interface Connectors Power Cable Connector Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Removing a Hard Drive Installing a Hard Drive Adding a Second Hard Drive (optional)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Removing a Floppy Drive Installing a Floppy Drive

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Removing a Media Card Reader Installing a Media Card Reader

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

5 Appendix

6 Contents

CD/DVD Drive

Removing a CD/DVD Drive Installing a CD/DVD Drive

Battery

Replacing the Battery

Replacing the Computer Cover

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

System Setup

Overview Entering System Setup

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

System Setup Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Boot Sequence

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Clearing Forgotten Passwords

Clearing CMOS Settings

Cleaning Your Computer

Computer, Keyboard, and Monitor Mouse

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Floppy Drive CDs and DVDs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Dell Technical Support Policy (U.S. Only)

Definition of "Dell-Installed" Software and Peripherals Definition of "Third-Party" Software and Peripherals

FCC Notices (U.S. Only)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Class A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Class B FCC Identification Information

Contacting Dell

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

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. . . . . . . . . . . 112

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Contents 7

8 Contents

Finding Information

NOTE: Some features or media may be optional and may not ship with your computer. Some features or

media may not be available in certain countries.

NOTE: Additional information may ship with your computer.

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Warranty information

• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)

• Safety instructions

• Regulatory information

• Ergonomics information

• End User License Agreement

Dell™ Product Information Guide

• How to set up my computer

Setup Diagram

Finding Information 9

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• Service Tag and Express Service Code

• Microsoft Windows License Label

Service Tag and Microsoft® Windows® License

These labels are located on your computer.

• Use the Service Tag to identify your computer when you use

support.dell.com

contact technical support.

• Enter the Express Service Code to direct your call when contacting technical support.

• Solutions — Troubleshooting hints and tips, articles from technicians, and online courses, frequently asked questions

• Community — Online discussion with other Dell customers

• Upgrades — Upgrade information for components, such as memory, the hard drive, and the operating system

• Customer Care — Contact information, service call and order status, warranty, and repair information

• Service and support — Service call status and support history, service contract, online discussions with technical support

• Reference — Computer documentation, details on my computer configuration, product specifications, and white papers

• Downloads — Certified rivers, patches, and software updates

• Desktop System Software (DSS)— If you reinstall the operating system for your computer, you should also reinstall the DSS utility. DSS provides critical updates for your operating system and support for Dell™

3.5-inch USB floppy drives, Intel

Pentiu m® M processors, optical drives, and USB devices. DSS is necessary for correct operation of your Dell computer. The software automatically detects your computer and operating system and installs the updates appropriate for your configuration.

Dell Support Website — support.dell.com

NOTE: Select your region to view the appropriate support

site.

NOTE: Corporate, government, and education customers

can also use the customized Dell Premier Support website at premier.support. dell.com.

To download Desktop System Software:

Go to

support.dell.com

Enter your Service Tag or product model.

In the

Download Category

Select the operating system and operating system language for your computer, and click

Under

Select a Device Configuration Utilities Software

and click

Downloads

drop-down menu, click

Submit.

, scroll to

, and click

System and

Dell Desktop System

All

10 Finding Information

What Are You Looking For? Find It Here

• How to use Windows XP

• How to work with programs and files

• How to personalize my desktop

Windows Help and Support Center

Click the

Type a word or phrase that describes your problem and click the arrow icon.

Click the topic that describes your problem.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Start

button and click

Help and Support

Finding Information 11

12 Finding Information

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Setting Up a Printer

NOTICE: Complete the operating system setup before you connect a printer to the computer.

See the documentation that came with the printer for setup information, including how to:

• Obtain and install updated drivers

• Connect the printer to the computer

• Load paper and install the toner or ink cartridge

• Contact the printer manufacturer for technical assistance

Printer Cable

Your printer connects to your computer with a USB cable. Your printer may not come with a printer cable, so if you purchase a cable separately, ensure that it is compatible with your printer. If you purchased a printer cable at the same time you purchased your computer, the cable may arrive in the computer box.

Connecting a USB Printer

NOTE: You can connect USB devices while the computer is turned on.

Complete the operating system setup, if you have not already done so.

Install the printer driver, if necessary. See the documentation that came with your printer.

Attach the USB printer cable to the USB connectors on the computer and the printer. The USB connectors only fit into the ports when correctly oriented.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 13

USB connector on computer

USB printer cable

USB connector on printer

Connecting to the Internet

NOTE: ISPs and ISP offerings vary by country.

To connect to the Internet, you need a modem or network connection and an Internet service provider (ISP), such as AOL or MSN. Your ISP will offer one or more of the following Internet connection options:

• Dial-up connections that provide Internet access through a telephone line. Dial-up connections are considerably slower than DSL and cable modem connections.

• DSL connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your existing telephone line. With a DSL connection, you can access the Internet and use your telephone on the same line simultaneously.

• Cable modem connections that provide high-speed Internet access through your local cable TV line.

If you are using a dial-up connection, connect a telephone line to the modem connector on your computer and to the telephone wall jack before you set up your Internet connection. If you are using a DSL or cable modem connection, contact your ISP for setup instructions.

14 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

To set up an AOL or MSN connection:

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

Double-click the

Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

If you do not have an Internet connection with a different ISP:

Save and close any open files, and exit any open programs.

Click the

The

Click

In the next window, click the appropriate option:

Start

New Connection Wizard

Connect to the Internet

• If you do not have an ISP and want to select one, click

service providers (ISPs)

• If you have already obtained setup information from your ISP but you did not receive a setup CD, click

• If you have a CD, click

Click

If you selected instructions on the screen to complete the setup.

MSN Explorer

button and click

AOL

Internet Explorer

appears.

Set up my connection manually

Use the CD I got from an ISP

Set up my connection manually

icon on the Microsoft® Windows® desktop.

icon on your desktop or if you want to set up an

Choose from a list of Internet

, continue to step 6. Otherwise, follow the

NOTE: If you do not know which type of connection to select, contact your ISP.

Click the appropriate option under click

Use the setup information provided by your ISP to complete the setup.

How do you want to connect to the Internet?

, and then

If you are having problems connecting to the Internet, see "E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems" on page 33. If you cannot connect to the Internet but have successfully connected in the past, the ISP might have a service outage. Contact your ISP to check the service status, or try connecting again later.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 15

Playing CDs and DVDs

NOTICE: Do not press down on the CD or DVD tray when you open or close it. Keep the tray closed when

you are not using the drive.

NOTICE: Do not move the computer when you are playing CDs or DVDs.

Press the eject button on the front of the drive.

Place the disc, label side up, in the center of the tray.

Press the eject button or gently push in the tray.

To format CDs for storing data, to create music CDs, or to copy CDs, see the CD software that came with your computer.

NOTE: Ensure that you follow all copyright laws when you create CDs.

A CD player includes the following basic buttons:

Play

Move backward within the current track

Pau se

Move forward within the current track

Stop

Go to the previous track

16 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Eject

Go to the next track

A DVD player includes the following basic buttons:

Stop

Restart the current chapter

Play

Fast forward

Pau se

Fast reverse

Advance a single frame while in pause mode

Go to the next title or chapter

Continuously play the current title or chapter

Go to the previous title or chapter

Eject

Help

For more information on playing CDs or DVDs, click

on the CD or DVD player (if available).

Adjusting the Volume

NOTE: When the speakers are muted, you do not hear the CD or DVD playing.

Click the

Volume Control

In the slide it up or down to increase or decrease the volume.

For more information on volume control options, click

Start

button, point to

Volume Control

All Programs → Accessories→ Entertainment

window, click and drag the bar in the

Help

in the

, and then click

Volume Control

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 17

column and

window.

Adjusting the Picture

If an error message notifies you that the current resolution and color depth are using too much memory and preventing DVD playback, adjust the display properties:

Click the

Under

In the setting to

Click the drop-down menu under

Click OK.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

Pick a task...

Display Properties

800 by 600 pixels

, click

Control Panel

Appearance and Themes

Change the screen resolution

window, click and drag the bar in

Color quality

, and then click

Screen resolution

Medium (16 bit)

to change the

Copying CDs and DVDs

NOTE: Ensure that you observe all copyright laws when creating CDs or DVDs.

This section applies only to computers that have a CD-RW, DVD+/-RW, or CD-RW/DVD (combo) drive.

NOTE: The types of CD or DVD drives offered by Dell may vary by country.

The following instructions explain how to make an exact copy of a CD or DVD. You can also use Sonic DigitalMedia for other purposes, such as creating music CDs from audio files stored on your computer or backing up important data. For help, open Sonic DigitalMedia and then click the question mark icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

How to Copy a CD or DVD

NOTE: CD-RW/DVD combo drives cannot write to DVD media. If you have a CD-RW/DVD combo drive

and you experience recording problems, check for available software patches on the Sonic support website at www.sonic.com.

The DVD-writable drives installed in Dell™ computers can write to and read DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW and DVD+R DL (dual layer) media, but cannot write to and may not read DVD-RAM or DVD-R DL media.

NOTE: Most commercial DVDs have copyright protection and cannot be copied using Sonic

DigitalMedia.

Click the click

Under the

18 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Copy

Start

button, point to

Copy

tab, click

All Programs→

Disc Copy

Sonic→ DigitalMedia Projects

, and then

To copy the CD or DVD:

•

If you have one CD or DVD drive

button. The computer reads your source CD or DVD and copies the data to a

Copy

temporary folder on your computer hard drive.

When prompted, insert a blank CD or DVD into the drive and click

, ensure that the settings are correct and click the

Disc

If you have two CD or DVD drives

• source CD or DVD and click the

, select the drive into which you have inserted your

Disc Copy

button. The computer copies the data from

the source CD or DVD to the blank CD or DVD.

Once you have finished copying the source CD or DVD, the CD or DVD that you have created automatically ejects.

Using Blank CDs and DVDs

CD-RW drives can write to CD recording media only (including high-speed CD-RW) while DVD-writable drives can write to both CD and DVD recording media.

Use blank CD-Rs to record music or permanently store data files. After creating a CD-R, you cannot write to that CD-R again (see the Sonic documentation for more information). Use blank CD-RWs to write to CDs or to erase, rewrite, or update data on CDs.

Blank DVD+/-Rs can be used to permanently store large amounts of information. After you create a DVD+/-R disc, you may not be able to write to that disc again if the disc is "finalized" or "closed" during the final stage of the disc creation process. Use blank DVD+/-RWs if you plan to erase, rewrite, or update information on that disc later.

CD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

C D- RW Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD-Writable Drives

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

CD-R Yes Yes No

C D- RW Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD+R Yes Yes No

DVD-R Yes Yes No

DV D +R W Yes Ye s Ye s

DV D -R W Ye s Ye s Ye s

DVD+R DL Yes Yes No

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 19

Media Type Read Write Rewritable

DVD-R DL Maybe No No

DVD-RAM Maybe No No

Helpful Tips

• Use Microsoft® Windows® Explorer to drag and drop files to a CD-R or CD-RW only after you start Sonic DigitalMedia and open a DigitalMedia project.

• Use CD-Rs to burn music CDs that you want to play in regular stereos. CD-RWs do not play in most home or car stereos.

• You cannot create audio DVDs with Sonic DigitalMedia.

• Music MP3 files can be played only on MP3 players or on computers that have MP3 software installed.

• Commercially available DVD players used in home theater systems may not support all available DVD formats. For a list of formats supported by your DVD player, see the documentation provided with your DVD player or contact the manufacturer.

• Do not burn a blank CD-R or CD-RW to its maximum capacity; for example, do not copy a 650-MB file to a blank 650-MB CD. The CD-RW drive needs 1–2 MB of the blank space to finalize the recording.

• Use a blank CD-RW to practice CD recording until you are familiar with CD recording techniques. If you make a mistake, you can erase the data on the CD-RW and try again. You can also use blank CD-RWs to test music file projects before you record the project permanently to a blank CD-R.

• See the Sonic website at

www.sonic.com

for additional information.

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

Use the Media Card Reader to transfer data directly to your computer.

The Media Card Reader supports the following memory types:

•xD-Picture Card

• SmartMedia (SMC)

• CompactFlash Type I and II (CF I/II)

• MicroDrive Card

• SecureDigital Card (SD)

• MultiMediaCard (MMC)

• Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro)

20 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

For information on installing a Media Card Reader, see "Installing a Media Card Reader" on page 89.

Memory Stick (MS/MS Pro)

xD-Picture Card and SmartMedia (SMC)

CompactFlash Type I and II (CF I/II) and MicroDrive Card

SecureDigital Card (SD)/ MultiMediaCard (MMC)

To use the Media Card Reader:

Check the media or card to determine the proper orientation for insertion.

Slide the media or card into the appropriate slot until it is completely seated in the connector.

If you encounter resistance, do not force the media or card. Check the card orientation and try again.

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter

NOTICE: Plug the network cable into the network adapter connector on the computer. Do not plug the

network cable into the modem connector on the computer.

NOTICE: Do not plug a network cable into a telephone wall jack.

Connect the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back of your computer.

Insert the cable until it clicks into place, and then gently pull it to ensure that it is secure.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 21

Connect the other end of the network cable to a network device.

network adapter connector

network adapter connector on computer

network device

network cable

Network Setup Wizard

The Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system provides a Network Setup Wizard to guide you through the process of sharing files, printers, or an Internet connection between computers in a home or small office.

Click the click

On the welcome screen, click

Click

Start

button, point to

Network Setup Wizard

All Programs→ Accessories→ Communications

Checklist for creating a network

, and then

NOTE: Selecting the connection method This computer connects directly to the Internet enables the

integrated firewall provided with Windows XP.

Complete the checklist and required preparations.

Return to the Network Setup Wizard and follow the instructions on the screen.

Power Management

The Microsoft® Windows® XP power management features can reduce the amount of electricity your computer uses when it is on and you are not using it. You can reduce power to just the monitor or the hard drive, or you can use standby mode or hibernate mode to reduce power to the entire computer. When the computer exits from a power conservation mode, the Windows desktop is restored to the state it was in before it entered the mode.

NOTE: Windows XP Professional includes security and networking features not available in

Windows XP Home Edition. When a Windows XP Professional computer is connected to a network, different options related to security and networking appear in certain windows.

22 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Standby Mode

Standby mode conserves power by turning off the display and the hard drive after a time-out. When the computer exits from standby mode, it returns to the operating state it was in before it entered standby mode.

To set standby mode to automatically activate after a defined period of inactivity:

Click the

Under

To immediately activate standby mode without a period of inactivity, click the

Turn Off Computer

To exit from standby mode, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.

NOTICE: If your computer loses power while in standby mode, it may lose data.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

or pick a Control Panel icon

, click

, and then click

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

Stand by

, click

Power Options

Start

button, click

Hibernate Mode

Hibernate mode conserves power by copying system data to a reserved area on the hard drive and then completely turning off the computer. When the computer exits from hibernate mode, the desktop is restored to the state it was in

To activate hibernate mode:

Click the

Under

Define your hibernate settings on the Power

To exit from hibernate mode from hibernate mode. Pressing a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse does not bring the computer out of hibernation, because the keyboard and the mouse do not function when the computer is in hibernate mode.

Because hibernate mode requires a special file on your hard drive with enough disk space to store the contents of the computer memory, Dell creates an appropriately sized hibernate mode file before shipping the computer to you. If the computer’s hard drive becomes corrupted, Windows XP recreates the hibernate file automatically.

Start

button and click

Pick a category

or pick a Control Panel icon

, click

press the power button. The computer may take a short time to exit

before it entered hibernate mode.

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

, click

Power Options

Schemes

tab,

Advanced

tab, and

Hibernate

tab.

Power Options Properties

Define your standby mode settings, hibernate mode settings, and other power settings in the

Options Properties

Click the

Under

Start

Pick a category

window. To access the

button and click

, click

Performance and Maintenance

Power Options Properties

Control Panel

window:

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 23

Power

Under

or pick a Control Panel icon

Define your power settings on the Power

Power Schemes Tab

, click

Power Options

Schemes

tab,

Advanced

tab, and

Hibernate

tab.

Each standard power setting is called a scheme. If you want to select one of the standard Windows schemes installed on your computer, choose a scheme from the

Power schemes

drop-down menu. The settings for each scheme appear in the fields below the scheme name. Each scheme has different settings for starting standby mode or hibernate mode, turning off the monitor, and turning off the hard drive.

The

Power schemes

•

Always On

Home/Office Desk

•

(default) — If you want to use your computer with no power conservation.

drop-down menu displays the following schemes:

— If you use your computer as a home or office computer and you require

minimal power conservation.

•

Presentation

— If you want your computer to run without interruption (using no power

conservation).

•

Minimal Power Management

— If you want your computer to run with minimal power

conservation.

•

Max Battery

— If your computer is a portable computer and you run your computer from

batteries for extended periods of time.

If you want to change the default settings for a scheme, click the drop-down menu in the

monitor

Turn off hard disks, System stand by

, or

System hibernates

field, and then select a time-

Tur n of f

out from the displayed list. Changing the time-out for a scheme field permanently changes the default settings for that scheme, unless you click

Save As

and enter a new name for the changed

scheme.

NOTICE: If you set the hard drive (hard disk) to time-out before the monitor does, your computer may

appear to be locked up. To recover, press any key on the keyboard or click the mouse. To avoid this problem, always set the monitor to time-out before the hard drive.

Advanced Tab

The

Advanced

tab allows you to:

• Place the power options icon in the Windows taskbar for quick access.

• Set the computer to prompt you for your Windows password before the computer exits from standby mode or hibernate mode.

• Program the power button to activate standby mode, activate hibernate mode, or turn off the computer.

To program these functions, select an option from the corresponding drop-down menu and click

24 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Hibernate Tab

The

Hibernate

you defined on the

Hibernate

For more information on power management options:

Click the

In the

tab allows you to enable hibernate mode. If you want to use the hibernate settings

Power Schemes

tab.

Start

button and click

Help and Support

Performance and maintenance

tab, click the

Help and Support

window, click

Enable hibernate support

Performance and maintenance

window, click

Conserving power on your computer

check box on the

About RAID Configurations

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration that you might have selected when you purchased your computer. Of the several RAID configurations available in the computer industry for different types of uses, Dell offers RAID level 1 on your computer. This configuration is recommended for users that desire a higher level of data integrity.

The Intel RAID controller on your computer can only create a RAID configuration using two physical drives. The drives should be the same size to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

NOTE: RAID levels do not represent a hierarchy. A RAID level 1 configuration is not inherently better or

worse than a RAID level 0 configuration.

Using RAID with Hard Drive Passwords

If you are using a hard-drive security option available in system setup (see page 104), you should not use a RAID configuration. Using a RAID configuration requires that the hard drive password be cleared to allow data access.

RAID Level 1

RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as "mirroring." When data is written to the primary drive, the data is then duplicated—or mirrored—on the other drive. A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices high-data access rates for its data redundancy advantages.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25

serial ATA RAID configured for RAID level 1

segment 1

segment 2

segment 3

segment 4

segment 5

segment 6

hard drive 1

segment 1 duplicated

segment 2 duplicated

segment 3 duplicated

segment 4 duplicated

segment 5 duplicated

segment 6 duplicated

hard drive 2

If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drive. Also, because data is duplicated on both drives, two 120-GB RAID level 1 drives collectively have a maximum of 120-GB on which to store data.

Configuring Your Computer for RAID

You may want to configure your computer for RAID at some point, if you did not select a RAID configuration when you purchased your computer. You must have at least two hard drives installed in your computer to set up a RAID configuration. For instructions on how to install a hard drive, see "Hard Drive" on page 79.

You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. One method uses the Intel RAID Option ROM utility and is performed before you install the operating system onto the hard drive. The second method uses the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, or Intel Matrix Storage Console, and this method is performed after you have installed the operating system and the Intel Matrix Storage Console. Both methods require that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before starting any of the RAID configuration procedures in this document.

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

Enter system setup (see page 103).

Press the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

26 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Drives

, and press <Enter>.

SATA Operation

, and press <Enter>.

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight

RAID On

, press <Enter>, and then

press <Esc>.

NOTE: For more information about RAID options, see "System Setup Options" on page 104.

Press the left- and right-arrow keys to highlight

Save/Exit

, and press <Enter> to exit system

setup and resume the boot process.

Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel® RAID Option ROM Utility

NOTE: Although any size drives may be used to create a RAID configuration when using the Intel RAID

Option ROM utility, ideally the drives should be of equal size. In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration will be the smaller of the two drives used.

Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 26).

Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default and press <Enter>.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select

If there are more than two hard drives available, press the up- and down-arrow keys and spacebar to select the two drives you want to use to make up your volume, and then press <Enter>.

Select the desired capacity for the volume, and press <Enter>. The default value is the maximum available size.

Press <Enter> to create the volume.

Press <y> to confirm that you want to create the RAID volume.

Confirm that the correct volume configuration is displayed on the main Intel RAID Option ROM utility screen.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to select

Install the operating system (see "Using Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore" on page 55).

Create RAID Volume

RAID1(Mirror)

Exit

and press <Enter>.

Deleting a RAID Volume

NOTE: When you perform this operation, all data on the RAID drives will be lost.

NOTE: If your computer currently boots to RAID and you delete the RAID volume in the Intel RAID Option

ROM utility, your computer will become unbootable.

Press <Ctrl><i> when you are prompted to enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight

Delete RAID Volume

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 27

, and press <Enter>.

Use the up- and down-arrow keys to highlight the RAID volume you want to delete, and press <Delete>.

Press <y> to confirm the deletion of the RAID volume.

Press <Esc> to exit the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.

Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager

If you already have one hard drive with the operating system installed on it, and you want to add a second hard drive and reconfigure both drives into a RAID volume without losing the existing operating system and any data, you need to use the migrating option for a

configuration (see page 29)

Create a RAID level 1 volume only when you already have a two-hard drive computer configured into a volume, but you still have some space left on the volume that you want to designate as a second RAID volume.

Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration

NOTE: When you perform this operation, all data on the RAID drives will be lost.

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 26).

Click the

Matrix Storage Console

Start

button and point to

to launch the Intel® Storage Utility.

Programs→ Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager→ Intel

RAID level 1

NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to

mode (see page 26).

On the

Actions

menu, select

Wizard.

Click

at the first screen.

Confirm the volume name, select

On the

Select Volume Location

your RAID level 1 volume, and then click the right arrow. Click a second hard drive until two drives appear in the

In the

Specify Volume Size

Click

Finish

to create the volume, or click

Follow Microsoft Windows procedures for creating a partition on the new RAID volume.

Deleting a RAID Volume

NOTE: While this procedure deletes the RAID 1 volume, it also splits the RAID 1 volume into two non-

RAID hard drives with a partition, and leaves any existing data files intact.

Click the

Start

Selected

button and point to

Matrix Storage Console

28 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Create RAID Volume

RAID 1

as the RAID level, and then click

to launch the Create RAID Volume

screen, click the first hard drive you want to use to create

window, and then click

window, select the

Back

Volume Size

to make changes.

Programs→ Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager→ Intel

to launch the Intel Storage Utility.

desired and click

RAID-enabled

to continue.

Right-click the

On the

Highlight the RAID volume you want to delete in the

Vo lu me

icon of the RAID volume you want to delete, and select

Delete RAID Volume Wizard

screen, click

button to move the highlighted RAID volume into the

Click

Finish

to delete the volume.

Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration

Set your computer to RAID-enabled mode (see page 26).

Click the

Intel Matrix Storage Console

Start

button and point to

All Programs→ Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager

to launch the Intel Storage Utility.

Available

Selected

Delete Volume

box, click the right-arrow

box, and then click

→

NOTE: If you do not see an Actions menu option, you have not yet set your computer to

RAID-enabled

mode (see page 26).

On the

Actions

menu, click

Create RAID Volume From Existing Hard Drive

to launch the

Migration Wizard.

Click

on the first Migration Wizard screen.

Enter a RAID volume name or accept the default.

From the drop-down box, select

NOTE: Select the hard drive that you want to use as your source hard drive (it should be the hard drive

containing the data or operating system files that you want to keep on the RAID volume).

On the migrate, and click

On the

Select Source Hard Drive

Select Member Hard Drive

drive that you want to act as the mirror in the configuration, and click

On the

NOTE: In step 10, all data contained on the member drive will be removed.

Click

Specify Volume Size

Finish

to start migrating, or click

RAID 1

as the RAID level

screen, double-click the hard drive from which you want to

screen, double-click the hard drive to select the member

screen, select the volume size you want, and click

Back

to make changes. You can use your computer

normally during migration process.

Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Level 1 Configuration

If your computer has reported a degraded RAID level 1 volume, you can manually rebuild the computer’s redundancy mirror to a new hard drive:

Click the

Matrix Storage Console

Right-click the available hard drive to which you want to rebuild the RAID level 1 volume, and click

You can use your computer while the computer is rebuilding the RAID level 1 volume.

Start

button and point to

to launch the Intel Storage Utility.

Rebuild to this Disk

Programs→ Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager→ Intel

Setting Up and Using Your Computer 29

Hyper-Threading

NOTE: Not all processors support hyper-threading technology.

Hyper-Threading is an Intel® technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing one physical processor to function as two logical processors, capable of performing certain tasks simultaneously. It is recommended that you use the Microsoft (SP1) or later operating system because Windows XP is optimized to take advantage of Hyper-Threading technology. While many programs can benefit from Hyper-Threading, some programs have not been optimized for Hyper-Threading and may require an update from the software manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and information about using Hyper-Threading with your software.

To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology:

Click the

Click

In the is enabled, the processor is listed twice.

You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading through system setup. For more information on accessing system setup, see page 103. For more information on Hyper-Threading, search the Knowledge Base on the Dell Support website at

Start

button, right-click

Hardware

Device Manager

and click

My Computer

Device Manager

window, click the plus (+) sign next to

, and then click

support.dell.com

Windows® XP Service Pack 1

Properties

Processors

. If Hyper-Threading

30 Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Solving Problems

Troubleshooting Tips

Follow these tips when you troubleshoot your computer:

• If you added or removed a part before the problem started, review the installation procedures and ensure that the part is correctly installed.

• If a peripheral device does not work, ensure that the device is properly connected.

• If an error message appears on the screen, write down the exact message. This message may help technical support personnel diagnose and fix the problem.

• If an error message occurs in a program, see the program’s documentation.

Battery Problems

CAUTION: There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the

battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

REPLACE THE BATTERY — If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on

the computer, or if an incorrect time or date displays during start-up, replace the battery (see page 95). If the battery still does not work properly, contact Dell (see page 114).

Drive Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

ENSURE THAT MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® RECOGNIZES THE DRIVE — Click the Start button and

click My Computer. If the floppy, CD, or DVD drive, is not listed, perform a full scan with your antivirus software to check for and remove viruses. Viruses can sometimes prevent Windows from recognizing the drive.

Solving Problems 31

TEST THE DRIVE —

• Insert another floppy disk, CD, or DVD to eliminate the possibility that the original one is defective.

• Insert a bootable floppy disk and restart the computer.

CLEAN THE DRIVE OR DISK — See "Cleaning Your Computer" on page 110.

CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities"

on page 54.

RUN THE DELL DIAGNOSTICS — See page 51.

CD and DVD drive problems

NOTE: High-speed CD or DVD drive vibration is normal and may cause noise, which does not indicate a

defect in the drive or the CD or DVD.

NOTE: Because of different regions worldwide and different disc formats, not all DVD titles work in all

DVD drives.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL —

• Click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen.

• Ensure that the volume is turned up by clicking the slidebar and dragging it up.

• Ensure that the sound is not muted by clicking any boxes that are checked.

CHECK THE SPEAKERS AND SUBWOOFER — See "Sound and Speaker Problems" on page 43.

Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive

CLOSE OTHER PROGRAMS — The CD/DVD-RW drive must receive a steady stream of data when writing. If the stream is interrupted, an error occurs. Try closing all programs before you write to the CD/DVD-RW.

TURN OFF STANDBY MODE IN WINDOWS BEFORE WRITING TO A CD/DVD-RW DISC — Search for the keyword standby in Windows Help.

32 Solving Problems

Hard drive problems

RUN CHECK DISK —

Click the

Right-click

Click

Click the

Under

Click

Start

button and click

Local Disk C:

Properties

Tools

tab.

Error-checking

, click

My Computer

Check Now

Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors Start

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTE: Connect the modem to an analog telephone jack only. The modem does not operate while it is

connected to a digital telephone network.

CHECK THE MICROSOFT OUTLOOK® EXPRESS SECURITY SETTINGS — If you cannot open your e-mail attachments:

In Outlook Express, click

Click

Do not allow attachments

To ol s

, click

Options

to remove the checkmark.

, and then click

Security

CHECK THE TELEPHONE LINE CONNECTION — C

HECK THE TELEPHONE JACK — ONNECT THE MODEM DIRECTLY TO THE TELEPHONE WALL JACK —

SE A DIFFERENT TELEPHONE LINE —

• Verify that the telephone line is connected to the jack on the modem. (The jack has either a green label or a connector-shaped icon next to it.)

• Ensure that you hear a click when you insert the telephone line connector into the modem.

• Disconnect the telephone line from the modem and connect it to a telephone. Listen for a dial tone.

• If you have other telephone devices sharing the line, such as an answering machine, fax machine, surge protector, or line splitter, then bypass them and use the telephone to connect the modem directly to the telephone wall jack. If you are using a line that is 3 m (10 ft) or more in length, try a shorter one.

RUN THE MODEM HELPER DIAGNOSTICS — Click the Start button, point to All Programs, and then click Modem Helper. Follow the instructions on the screen to identify and resolve modem problems. (Modem Helper is not available on all computers.)

Solving Problems 33

VERIFY THAT THE MODEM IS COMMUNICATING WITH WINDOWS —

Click the

Click

Click the

Click the COM port for your modem.

Click communicating with Windows.

If all commands receive responses, the modem is operating properly.

ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET — Ensure that you have subscribed to an Internet provider. With the Outlook Express e-mail program open, click File. If Work Offline has a checkmark next to it, click the checkmark to remove it and connect to the Internet. For help, contact your Internet service provider.

Start

button and click

Printers and Other Hardware Phone and Modem Options

Modems

Properties

tab.

, click the

Control Panel

Diagnostics

tab, and then click

Query Modem

to verify that the modem is

Error Messages

If the message is not listed, see the documentation for the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared.

A FILENAME CANNOT CONTAIN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS: \ / : * ? “ < > | — Do not use these characters in filenames.

A REQUIRED .DLL FILE WAS NOT FOUND — The program that you are trying to open is missing an essential file. To remove and then reinstall the program:

Click the

Select the program you want to remove.

Click the

See the program documentation for installation instructions.

drive letter :\ IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE DEVICE IS NOT READY — The drive cannot read the disk. Insert a disk into the drive and try again.

INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA — Insert a bootable floppy disk or CD.

NON- SYSTEM DISK ERROR — Remove the floppy disk from the drive and restart your computer.

34 Solving Problems

Start

button, click

Change or Remove Program

Control Panel

, and then click

icon.

Add or Remove Programs

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY OR RESOURCES. CLOSE SOME PROGRAMS AND TRY AGAIN — Close all windows and open the program that you want to use. In some cases, you might have to restart your computer to restore computer resources. If so, run the program that you want to use first.

OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND — Contact Dell (see page 114).

Media Card Reader Problems

NO DRIVE LETTER IS ASSIGNED —

When Microsoft Windows XP detects the Media Card Reader, the device is automatically assigned a drive letter as the next logical drive after all other physical drives in the system. If the next logical drive after the physical drives is mapped to a network drive, Windows XP does not automatically assign a drive letter to the Media Card Reader.

To manually assign a drive for the Media Card Reader:

Right-click My Computer and select

Select the

Right-click the corresponding drive letter in the right pane that needs to be changed.

Select

From the drop-down list, select the new drive letter assignment for the Media Card Reader.

Click OK to confirm your selection.

Disk Management

Drive Letter and Paths.

NOTE: Each slot in the Media Card Reader is mapped to a drive letter. A Media Card Reader slot only

appears as a mapped drive when a media card is installed in it. If you attempt to access a drive that is mapped to an empty Media Card Reader slot, you are prompted to insert media.

option.

Manage

FLEXBAY DEVICE IS DISABLED —

There is a FlexBay disable option in the BIOS setup that appears only when the FlexBay device is installed. If the FlexBay device is physically installed, but it is not running, check to see if it is enabled in the BIOS setup.

Solving Problems 35

Keyboard Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CHECK THE KEYBOARD CABLE —

• Ensure that the keyboard cable is firmly connected to the computer.

• Shut down the computer (see page 57), reconnect the keyboard cable as shown on the setup diagram for your computer, and then restart the computer.

• Check the cable connector for bent or broken pins and for damaged or frayed cables. Straighten bent pins.

• Remove keyboard extension cables and connect the keyboard directly to the computer.

TEST THE KEYBOARD — Connect a properly working keyboard to the computer; then try using the keyboard.

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" on page 54.

Lockups and Software Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

The computer does not start up

CHECK THE DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS — See page 47.

ENSURE THAT THE POWER CABLE IS FIRMLY CONNECTED TO THE COMPUTER AND TO THE

LECTRICAL OUTLET

The computer stops responding

NOTICE: You might lose data if you are unable to perform an operating system shutdown.

TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or

moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off. Then restart your computer.

36 Solving Problems

A program stops responding

END THE PROGRAM —

Press <Ctrl><Shift><Esc> simultaneously.

Click

Applications

Click the program that is no longer responding.

Click

End Task

A program crashes repeatedly

NOTE: Software usually includes installation instructions in its documentation or on a floppy disk or CD.

CHECK THE SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION — If necessary, uninstall and then reinstall the program.

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

RUN THE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY WIZARD —

The Program Compatibility Wizard configures a program so it runs in an environment similar to nonWindows XP operating system environments.

Click the

Wizard

In the welcome screen, click

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Start

button, point to

All Programs→ Accessories

, and then click

Program Compatibility

A solid blue screen appears

TURN THE COMPUTER OFF — If you are unable to get a response by pressing a key on your keyboard or moving your mouse, press and hold the power button for at least 8 to 10 seconds until the computer turns off. Then restart your computer.

Solving Problems 37

Memory Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

IF YOU RECEIVE AN INSUFFICIENT MEMORY MESSAGE —

• Save and close any open files and exit any open programs you are not using to see if that resolves the problem.

• See the software documentation for minimum memory requirements. If necessary, install additional memory (see page 67).

• Reseat the memory modules (see page 67) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.

• Run the Dell Diagnostics (see page 51).

38 Solving Problems

IF YOU EXPERIENCE OTHER MEMORY PROBLEMS —

• Reseat the memory modules (see page 67) to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating with the memory.

• Ensure that you are following the memory installation guidelines (see page 67).

• Your computer supports DDR2 memory. For more information about the type of memory supported by your computer, see "Memory" on page 65.

• Run the Dell Diagnostics (see page 51).

Mouse Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CLEAN THE MOUSE — For instructions on cleaning the mouse, see "Mouse" on page 111.

CHECK THE MOUSE CABLE —

Remove mouse extension cables, if used, and connect the mouse directly to the computer.

Reconnect the mouse cable as shown in the setup diagram for your computer.

RESTART THE COMPUTER —

Simultaneously press <Ctrl><Esc> to display the

Ty p e u, press the keyboard arrow keys to highlight

After the computer turns off, reconnect the mouse cable as shown on the on the setup diagram for your computer.

Start the computer.

Start

menu.

Shut down

Turn Off

, and then press <Enter>.

TEST THE MOUSE — Connect a properly working mouse to the computer, and try using the mouse.

CHECK THE MOUSE SETTINGS —

Click the

Click

Try adjusting the settings.

Start

Mouse

button, click

Control Panel

, and then click

Printers and Other Hardware

REINSTALL THE MOUSE DRIVER — See "Reinstalling Drivers" on page 53.

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities"

on page 54.

Solving Problems 39

Network Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CHECK THE NETWORK CABLE CONNECTOR — Ensure that the network cable is firmly inserted into

both the network connector on the back of the computer and the network port or device.

CHECK THE NETWORK LIGHTS ON THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER — If the link integrity light is off, that indicates no network communication exists. Replace the network cable. For a description of network lights, see "Controls and Lights" on page 101.

RESTART THE COMPUTER AND LOG ON TO THE NETWORK AGAIN

CHECK YOUR NETWORK SETTINGS — Contact your network administrator or the person who set up

your network to verify that your network settings are correct and that the network is functioning.

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" on page 54.

Power Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS GREEN AND THE COMPUTER IS NOT RESPONDING — See "Diagnostic Lights"

on page 47.

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING GREEN — The computer is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard, move the mouse, or press the power button to resume normal operation.

40 Solving Problems

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF — The computer is either turned off or is not receiving power.

• Reseat the power cable into both the power connector on the back of the computer and the electrical outlet.

• If the computer is plugged into a power strip, ensure that the power strip is plugged into an electrical outlet and that the power strip is turned on. Also bypass power protection devices, power strips, and power extension cables to verify that the computer turns on properly.

• Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

• Ensure that the main power cable and front panel cable are securely connected to the system board (see page 65).

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS STEADY AMBER — A device might be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed.

• Remove and then reinstall the memory modules (see page 67).

• Remove and then reinstall any cards (see page 69).

IF THE POWER LIGHT IS BLINKING AMBER — The computer is receiving electrical power, but an internal power problem might exist.

• Ensure that the voltage selection switch is set to match the AC power at your location (if applicable).

• Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the system board (see page 65).

ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE — Some possible causes of interference are:

• Power, keyboard, and mouse extension cables

• Too many devices on a power strip

• Multiple power strips connected to the same electrical outlet

Printer Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located

in the Product Information Guide.

NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your printer, contact the printer’s manufacturer.

CHECK THE PRINTER DOCUMENTATION — See the printer documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.

ENSURE THAT THE PRINTER IS TURNED ON

Solving Problems 41

CHECK THE PRINTER CABLE CONNECTIONS —

• See the printer documentation for cable connection information.

• Ensure that the printer cables are securely connected to the printer and the computer (see "Setting Up a Printer" on page 13).

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

VERIFY THAT THE PRINTER IS RECOGNIZED BY WINDOWS —

Click the

Click If the printer is listed, right-click the printer icon.

Click

port(s):

setting is

REINSTALL THE PRINTER DRIVER — See the printer documentation for instructions.

Start

button, click

View installed printers or fax printers

Properties

setting is

and click the

LPT1 (Printer Port)

USB

Control Panel

Ports

tab. For a parallel printer, ensure that the

. For a USB printer, ensure that the

, and then click

Printers and Other Hardware

Print to the following

Print to the following port(s):

Scanner Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTE: If you need technical assistance for your scanner, contact the scanner’s manufacturer.

CHECK THE SCANNER DOCUMENTATION — See the scanner documentation for setup and troubleshooting information.

UNLOCK THE SCANNER — Ensure that your scanner is unlocked if it has a locking tab or button.

RESTART THE COMPUTER AND TRY THE SCANNER AGAIN

CHECK THE CABLE CONNECTIONS —

• See the scanner documentation for cable connection information.

• Ensure that the scanner cables are securely connected to the scanner and the computer.

42 Solving Problems

VERIFY THAT THE SCANNER IS RECOGNIZED BY MICROSOFT WINDOWS —

Click the

Click If your scanner is listed, Windows recognizes the scanner.

REINSTALL THE SCANNER DRIVER — See the scanner documentation for instructions.

Start

button, click

Scanners and Cameras

Control Panel

, and then click

Printers and Other Hardware

Sound and Speaker Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

No sound from speakers

NOTE: The volume control in some MP3 players overrides the Windows volume setting. If you have been

listening to MP3 songs, ensure that you did not turn the player volume down or off.

CHECK THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTIONS — Ensure that the speakers are connected as shown on the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If you purchased a sound card, ensure that the speakers are connected to the card.

ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON — See the setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If your speakers have volume controls, adjust the volume, bass, or treble to eliminate distortion.

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR — Sound from the speakers is automatically disabled when headphones are connected to the computer’s front-panel headphone connector.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or halogen lamps to check for interference.

Solving Problems 43

REINSTALL THE SOUND DRIVER — See "Reinstalling Drivers" on page 53.

RUN THE HARDWARE TROUBLESHOOTER — See "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities"

on page 54.

No sound from headphones

CHECK THE HEADPHONE CABLE CONNECTION — Ensure that the headphone cable is securely inserted into the headphone connector (see page 59).

ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.

Video and Monitor Problems

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTE: See the monitor documentation for troubleshooting procedures.

If the screen is blank

CHECK THE MONITOR CABLE CONNECTION —

• Ensure that the graphics cable is connected as shown on the setup diagram for your computer.

• If you are using a graphics extension cable and removing the cable solves the problem, the cable is defective.

• Swap the computer and monitor power cables to determine if the power cable is defective.

• Check the connector for bent or broken pins. (It is normal for monitor cable connectors to have missing pins.)

CHECK THE MONITOR POWER LIGHT — If the power light is off, firmly press the button to ensure that the monitor is turned on. If the power light is lit or blinking, the monitor has power. If the power light is blinking, press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse.

TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another device, such as a lamp.

CHECK THE DIAGNOSTIC LIGHTS — See page 47.

44 Solving Problems

If the screen is difficult to read

CHECK THE MONITOR SETTINGS — See the monitor documentation for instructions on adjusting the contrast and brightness, demagnetizing (degaussing) the monitor, and running the monitor self-test.

MOVE THE SUBWOOFER AWAY FROM THE MONITOR — If your speaker system includes a subwoofer, ensure that the subwoofer is at least 60 cm (2 ft) away from the monitor.

MOVE THE MONITOR AWAY FROM EXTERNAL POWER SOURCES — Fans, fluorescent lights, halogen lamps, and other electrical devices can cause the screen image to appear "shaky." Turn off nearby devices to check for interference.

ROTATE THE MONITOR TO ELIMINATE SUNLIGHT GLARE AND POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE

ADJUST THE WINDOWS DISPLAY SETTINGS —

Click the

Click

Try different settings for

Start

Display

button, click

and click the

Screen resolution

Control Panel

Settings

tab.

, and then click

and

Color quality.

Appearance and Themes

Solving Problems 45

46 Solving Problems

Advanced Troubleshooting

Diagnostic Lights

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

Your computer has four lights labeled "1," "2," "3," and "4" on the front panel to help you troubleshoot problems (see page 59). When the computer starts normally, the lights flash. After the computer starts successfully, all four lights turn off. If the computer malfunctions, the color and sequence of the lights identify the problem.

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

The computer is in a normal "off" condition or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred.

The diagnostic lights turn off after the system successfully boots to the operating system.

NOTE: If all of the diagnostic lights are off and

the system does not start, there may be a problem with the power supply or with the processor.

A processor failure was detected. Contact Dell for technical assistance.

Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet Also see "Power Problems" in your Owner’s Manual.

Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred.

• If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module (see ""Installing Memory" on page 67"), and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

• If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer (see "Installing Memory" on page 67).

• If the problem persists,

technical assistance.

Advanced Troubleshooting 47

contact Dell for

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

A possible graphics failure has occurred.

If the problem persists,

technical assistance.

contact Dell for

A possible floppy drive or hard drive failure has occurred.

A possible USB failure has occurred. Reinstall all USB devices, check cable

No memory modules are detected.

Memory modules are detected, but a memory configuration or compatibility error exists.

Reseat all power and data cables and restart the computer.

connections, and then restart the computer.

• If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module (see "Installing Memory" on page 67), and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

• If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer (see "Installing Memory" on page 67).

• If the problem persists,

technical assistance.

• Ensure that no special memory module/memory connector placement requirements exist (see "DDR2 Memory Overview" on page 66).

• Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer (see "DDR2 Memory Overview" on page 66).

• If the problem persists,

technical assistance.

contact Dell for

48 Advanced Troubleshooting

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

A possible expansion card failure has occurred. 1

Determine whether a conflict exists by removing a card and restarting the computer (see "Cards" on page 69).

If the problem persists, reinstall the card that you removed, remove a different card, and then restart the computer.

Repeat this process for each card. If the computer starts normally, troubleshoot the last card removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see "Resolving Software and Hardware Compatibilities" in your computer

If the problem persists,

Owner's Manual

technical assistance.

Another failure has occurred.

• Ensure that the cables are properly connected to the system board from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD drive (see "System Board Components" on page 65).

• If there is an error message on your screen identifying a problem with a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive), check the device to ensure that it is functioning properly.

• The operating system is attempting to boot from a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive); check system setup (see "System Setup" on page 103) to make sure the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer.

• If the problem persists,

technical assistance.

contact Dell for

Advanced Troubleshooting 49

Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution

During normal operation, all of the diagnostic lights turn on and then turn off before the system starts.

If all four diagnostic lights stay on and the power button remains amber, a possible processor power or connection error has occurred.

NOTE: If all of the diagnostic lights turn on then

off and the system does not start, there may be a problem with the power supply or with the processor. For other possible solutions, see "Power Problems" in your Owner's Manual.

If the system does not start, plug the computer into a working electrical outlet. Also see "Power Problems" in your Owner’s Manual.

Unplug the power supply and check the 4-pin processor power cable connection (see "System Board Components" on page 65).

If there are no power problems and the system does not start, contact Dell for technical assistance.

50 Advanced Troubleshooting

Dell Diagnostics

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in "Solving Problems" (see page 31) and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical assistance.

NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on Dell™ computers.

Turn on (or restart) your computer.

When the DELL™ logo appears, press <F12> immediately.

If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft

When the boot device list appears, highlight

When the Dell Diagnostics page 51).

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the option you want.

Option Function

Express Test Performs a quick test of devices. This test typically takes 10 to

Extended Test Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically takes

Custom Test Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you want to

Symptom Tree Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows you

Windows® desktop. Then shut down your computer (see page 57) and try again.

Boot to Utility Partition

Main Menu

20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the problem quickly.

an hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically.

run.

to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you are having.

appears, select the test you want to run (see

Main Menu

screen appears, click the button for the

and press <Enter>.

If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error code and a description of the problem. Write down the error code and problem description and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell (see

NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test screen. If you contact Dell,

technical support will ask for your Service Tag.

page 114

Advanced Troubleshooting 51

If you run a test from the

Custom Test

Symptom Tree

option, click the applicable tab

described in the following table for more information.

Tab Function

Results Displays the results of the test and any error conditions

encountered.

Errors Displays error conditions encountered, error codes, and the

problem description.

Help Describes the test and may indicate requirements for running

the test.

Configuration Displays your hardware configuration for the selected device.

The Dell Diagnostics obtains configuration information for all devices from system setup, memory, and various internal tests, and it displays the information in the device list in the left pane of the screen. The device list may not display the names of all the components installed on your computer or all devices attached to your computer.

Parameters Allows you to customize the test by changing the test settings.

Close the test screen to return to the restart the computer, close the

Main Menu

screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics and

screen.

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

A driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer, mouse, or keyboard. All devices require a driver program.

A driver acts like a translator between the device and any other programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver recognizes.

Dell ships your computer to you with required drivers already installed—no further installation or configuration is needed.

Many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with your Microsoft system. You may need to install drivers if you:

• Upgrade your operating system.

• Reinstall your operating system.

• Connect or install a new device.

52 Advanced Troubleshooting

Windows® operating

Identifying Drivers

If you experience a problem with any device, identify whether the driver is the source of your problem and, if necessary, update the driver.

Windows XP

Click the

Under

Click

In the

Click

Scroll down the list to see if any device has an exclamation point (a yellow circle with a [!]) on

Start

button and click

Pick a Category

System

System Properties

Device Manager

Control Panel

, click

Performance and Maintenance

window, click the

Hardware

tab.

the device icon.

If an exclamation point is next to the device name, you may need to reinstall the driver or install a new driver.

Reinstalling Drivers

NOTICE: The Dell Support website at support.dell.com provides approved drivers for Dell™ computers.

If you install drivers obtained from other sources, your computer might not work correctly.

Using Windows XP Device Driver Rollback

If a problem occurs on your computer after you install or update a driver, use Windows XP Device Driver Rollback to replace the driver with the previously installed version.

Click the

Under

Click

In the

Click

Right-click the device for which the new driver was installed and click

Click the

Click

If Device Driver Rollback does not resolve the problem, then use System Restore to return your computer to the operating state that existed before you installed the new driver.

Start

button and click

Pick a Category

System

System Properties

Device Manager

Drivers

tab.

Roll Back Driver

Control Panel

, click

Performance and Maintenance

window, click the

Hardware

tab.

Properties

Advanced Troubleshooting 53

Manually Reinstalling Drivers

After copying the required driver files to your hard drive, click the

My Computer

Click

Properties

Click the

Double-click the type of device for which you are installing the driver.

Double-click the name of the device for which you are installing the driver.

Click the

Click

Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)

Click

Browse

When the name of the appropriate driver appears, click

Click

Finish

Hardware

Driver

tab and click

and browse to the location to which you previously extracted the driver files.

and restart your computer.

Device Manager

Update Driver

and click

Start

button and right-click

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

If a device is either not detected during the operating system setup or is detected but incorrectly configured, you can use the Hardware Troubleshooter to resolve the incompatibility.

To resolve incompatibilities using the Hardware Troubleshooter:

Click the

Ty p e

Click

In the

computer

Start

button and click

hardware troubleshooter

Hardware Troubleshooter

, and click

Help and Support

in the

list, click

in the

field and click the arrow to start the search.

Search Results

I need to resolve a hardware conflict on my

list.

Restoring Your Operating System

You can restore your operating system in the following ways:

• Microsoft Windows XP System Restore returns your computer to an earlier operating state without affecting data files.

• Dell PC Restore by Symantec restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications installed after you received the computer.

54 Advanced Troubleshooting

Using Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore

The Microsoft Windows XP operating system provides System Restore to allow you to return your computer to an earlier operating state (without affecting data files) if changes to the hardware, software, or other system settings have left the computer in an undesirable operating state. See the Windows Help and Support Center for information on using System Restore.

NOTICE: Make regular backups of your data files. System Restore does not monitor your data files or

recover them.

NOTE: The procedures in this document were written for the Windows default view, so they may not

work if you set your Dell™ computer to the Windows Classic view.

Creating a Restore Point

Click the

Click

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State

If problems occur after you install a device driver, use Device Driver Rollback (see page 53) to resolve the problem. If that is unsuccessful, then use System Restore.

NOTICE: Before you restore the computer to an earlier operating state, save and close any open files

and exit any open programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the

System Restore

Ensure that

Click a calendar date to which you want to restore your computer.

The points. All calendar dates with available restore points appear in boldface type.

Start

button and click

System Restore

Start

button, point to

Restore my computer to an earlier time

Select a Restore Point

Help and Support

All Programs→

Accessories→

System Tools

is selected and click

, and then click

screen provides a calendar that allows you to see and select restore

Select a restore point and click

If a calendar date has only one restore point, then that restore point is automatically selected. If two or more restore points are available, click the restore point that you prefer.

Click

The

Restoration Complete

screen appears after System Restore finishes collecting data and

then the computer restarts.

After the computer restarts, click OK.

To change the restore point, you can either repeat the steps using a different restore point, or you can undo the restoration.

Advanced Troubleshooting 55

Undoing the Last System Restore

NOTICE: Before you undo the last system restore, save and close all open files and exit any open

programs. Do not alter, open, or delete any files or programs until the system restoration is complete.

Click the

System Restore

Click

Enabling System Restore

Start

button, point to

Undo my last restoration

All Programs→ Accessories→ System Tools

and click

, and then click

If you reinstall Windows XP with less than 200 MB of free hard-disk space available, System Restore is automatically disabled. To see if System Restore is enabled:

Click the

Click

Click the

Ensure that

Start

button and click

Control Panel

Performance and Maintenance

System

System Restore

tab.

Turn off System Restore

is unchecked.

Using Dell™ PC Restore by Symantec

NOTE: Dell PC Restore is not available in all countries.

Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system. PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer. Any programs or files added since you received your computer permanently deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos, music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore.

—

including data files—are

NOTICE: Using PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications

or drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using PC Restore.

To use PC Restore:

Turn on the computer and watch the keyboard status lights.

Immediately upon seeing the lights flash, press <Ctrl><F11>.

If you do not press <Ctrl><F11> in time, let the computer finish restarting, and then restart the computer again.

NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.

On the next screen that appears, click

On the next screen, click

The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete.

56 Advanced Troubleshooting

Confirm

Restore

When prompted, click

NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.

When prompted, click

Finish

to reboot the computer.

Yes

The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the computer was turned on.

Click

System Restore

The

After the computer restarts, click OK.

screen appears and the computer restarts.

Removing Dell PC Restore

NOTICE: Removing Dell PC Restore from the hard drive permanently deletes the PC Restore utility from

your computer. After you have removed Dell PC Restore, you will not be able to use it to restore your computer’s operating system.

Dell PC Restore enables you to restore your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased your computer. It is recommended that you do not remove PC Restore from your computer, even to gain additional hard-drive space. If you remove PC Restore from the hard drive, you cannot ever recall it, and you will never be able to use PC Restore to return your computer’s operating system to its original state.

To remove PC Restore:

Log on to the computer as a local administrator.

In Windows Explorer, go to

Double-click the filename

c:\dell\utilities\DSR

DSRIRRemv2.exe

NOTE: If you do not log on as a local administrator, a message appears stating that you must log on

as administrator. Click Quit, and then log on as a local administrator.

NOTE: If the partition for PC Restore does not exist on your computer’s hard drive, a message

appears stating that the partition was not found. Click Quit; there is no partition to delete.

Click OK to remove the PC Restore partition on the hard drive.

Click

Yes

when a confirmation message appears.

The PC Restore partition is deleted and the newly available disk space is added to the free space allocation on the hard drive.

Right-click additional disk space is available as indicated by the increased value for

Click

Restart the computer.

Local Disk (C)

Finish

to close the

in Windows Explorer, click

PC Restore Removal

window.

Properties

, and verify that the

Free Space

Advanced Troubleshooting 57

58 Advanced Troubleshooting

Removing and Installing Parts

Before You Begin

This chapter provides procedures for removing and installing the components in your computer. Unless otherwise noted, each procedure assumes that the following conditions exist:

• You have performed the steps in "Turning Off Your Computer" (see page 57) and "Before Working Inside Your Computer" (see page 58).

• You have read the safety information in your Dell™

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, a component can be replaced or—if purchased separately—installed

by performing the removal procedure in reverse order.

Recommended Tools

The procedures in this document may require the following tools:

• Small flat-blade screwdriver

• Phillips screwdriver

• Flash BIOS update program floppy disk or CD

Turning Off Your Computer

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, save and close any open files and exit any open programs before you turn

off your computer.

Shut down the operating system:

Save and close any open files, exit any open programs, click the

Turn Off Computer

click

In the

Turn off computer

The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process finishes.

window, click

Tur n of f

Product Information Guide.

Start

button, and then

Ensure that the computer and any attached devices are turned off. If your computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for 4 seconds.

Removing and Installing Parts 57

Before Working Inside Your Computer

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer from potential damage and to help ensure your own personal safety.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions located

in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: Handle components and cards with care. Do not touch the components or contacts on a

card. Hold a card by its edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a processor by its edges, not by its pins.

NOTICE: Only a certified service technician should perform repairs on your computer. Damage due to

servicing that is not authorized by Dell is not covered by your warranty.

NOTICE: When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable

itself. Some cables have a connector with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in the locking tabs before you disconnect the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector pins. Also, before you connect a cable, ensure that both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

NOTICE: To avoid damaging the computer, perform the following steps before you begin working inside

the computer.

Turn off your computer (see page 57).

NOTICE: To disconnect a network cable, first unplug the cable from your computer and then unplug it

from the network port or device.

Disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer.

Disconnect your computer and all attached devices from their electrical outlets, and then press the power button to ground the system board.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet

before removing the cover.

Remove the computer cover (see page 62).

NOTICE: Before touching anything inside your computer, ground yourself by touching an unpainted

metal surface, such as the metal at the back of the computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to dissipate any static electricity that could harm internal components.

58 Removing and Installing Parts

Front View of the Computer

1 cover latch release Use this latch to remove the cover. See "Removing the

2 CD/DVD activity light The drive light is on when the computer reads data from the

3 CD/DVD eject button Press to eject a disk from the CD or DVD drive.

4 FlexBay drive Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card

Computer Cover" on page 62.

CD or DVD drive.

Reader. For information on using the Media Card Reader, see "Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 20.

Removing and Installing Parts 59

5 USB 2.0 connectors (2) Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect

occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB devices (see "System Setup Options" on page 104 for more information on booting to a USB device). It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.

6 hard-drive activity light The hard drive activity light is on when the computer reads

data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating.

7 vents For adequate cooling, do not block any of the vents.

NOTICE: Ensure that there is a minimum of two inches of

space between all vents and any object near these vents.

NOTICE: Keep the vent area clean and dust-free to ensure

that the system is adequately ventilated. Use only a dry cloth to clean the vent area to avoid water damage to the system.

8 power button Press to turn on the computer.

NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button

to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.

9 headphone connector Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most

kinds of speakers.

10 diagnostic lights (4) Use the lights to help you troubleshoot a computer problem

based on the diagnostic code. For more information, see "Diagnostic Lights" on page 47.

11 Service Tag Use to identify your computer when you access the Dell

Support website or call technical support.

60 Removing and Installing Parts

Back View of the Computer

1 power connector Insert the power cable.

2 sound card connectors (3)

3 USB 2.0 connectors (4) Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as

• Line-in connector — Use the blue line-in connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR.

• Line-out connector — Use the green line-out connector to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers.

• Microphone connector — Use the pink microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program.

printers and keyboards.

It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB devices.

Removing and Installing Parts 61

4 network adapter connector To attach your computer to a network or broadband device, connect one end of a

network cable to either a network port or your network or broadband device. Connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached.

NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector.

On computers with a network connector card, use the connector on the card.

It is recommended that you use Category 5 wiring and connectors for your network. If you must use Category 3 wiring, force the network speed to 10 Mbps to ensure reliable operation.

VGA video connector If your monitor has a VGA connector, plug it into the VGA connector on the

computer.

6 card slots Access connectors for any installed PCI cards (two slots) and a x1 PCI Express

card.

NOTE: Although your computer has 4 card slot openings, it supports a maximum of 3

cards; the bottom slot cannot be used.

Removing the Computer Cover

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet

before removing the cover.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

NOTICE: Ensure that sufficient space exists to support the removed cover—at least 30 cm (1 ft) of desk

top space.

NOTICE: Ensure that you are working on a level, protected surface to avoid scratching either the

computer or the surface on which it is resting.

Lay your computer on its side with the computer cover facing up.

Pull back the cover release latch located on the top panel.

62 Removing and Installing Parts

cover latch release

computer cover

back of computer

bottom hinges

Locate the three hinge tabs on the bottom edge of the computer.

Grip the sides of the computer cover and pivot the cover up, using the bottom hinges as leverage points.

Release the cover from the hinge tabs and set it aside in a secure location.

Removing and Installing Parts 63

Inside View of Your Computer

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CD or DVD drive

*floppy drive

hard drive

power supply

system board

bay for optional second hard drive

*May not be present on all computers.

64 Removing and Installing Parts

System Board Components

processor power connector

processor and heat sink connector

floppy drive connector (FLOPPY)

fan connector (CPU FAN)

memory module connectors (1, 2)

SATA connectors (SATA-0 and SATA-1)

front panel I/O connector

main power connector

IDE drive connector

FlexBay USB connector

PCI Express x1 card connector

clear CMOS jumper (RTCRST)

battery socket (BATTERY)

password jumper (PSWD)

PCI card connectors

Memory

If your computer only has one memory module installed on the system board, you can increase your computer memory by installing an additional memory module.

Your computer supports DDR2 memory. For additional information on the type of memory supported by your computer, see "Specifications" on page 99.

Removing and Installing Parts 65

DDR2 Memory Overview

DDR2 memory modules should be installed in If the DDR2 memory modules are not installed in matched pairs, the computer will continue to operate, but with a slight reduction in performance. See the label on the module to determine the module’s capacity.

NOTE: Always install DDR2 memory modules in the order indicated on the system board.

The recommended memory configuration consists of a pair of matched memory modules installed in DIMM connectors 1 and 2

NOTICE: Do not install ECC or buffered memory modules. Only unbuffered, non-ECC memory is

supported.

• If you install mixed pairs of DDR2 400-MHz (PC2-3200) and DDR2 533-MHz (PC2-4300) memory, the modules function at the slower installed speed.

• Be sure to install a single memory module in DIMM connector 1, the connector closest to the processor, before you install a module in the other connector.

pairs of matched memory size, speed, and technology

matched pair of memory modules in DIMM connectors 1 and 2

NOTE: Memory purchased from Dell is covered under your computer warranty.

66 Removing and Installing Parts

NOTICE: If you remove your original memory modules from the computer during a memory upgrade,

keep them separate from any new modules that you may have, even if you purchased the new modules from Dell. If possible, do not pair an original memory module with a new memory module. Otherwise, your computer may not start properly.

Installing Memory

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity

from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector.

memory connector closest to processor

securing clips (2)

connector

Align the notch on the bottom of the module with the crossbar in the connector.

notch

memory module

cutouts (2)

crossbar

Removing and Installing Parts 67

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the memory module, press the module straight down into the connector

while you apply equal force to each end of the module.

Insert the module into the connector until the module snaps into position.

If you insert the module correctly, the securing clips snap into the cutouts at each end of the module.

Replace the computer cover. See "Replacing the Computer Cover" on page 96.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device, and then plug

it into the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on

When a message appears stating that memory size has changed, press <F1> to continue.

Log on to your computer.

Right-click the

Click the

To verify that the memory is installed correctly, check the amount of memory (RAM) listed.

My Computer

General

tab.

icon and click

Properties

Removing Memory

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity

from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Press out the securing clip at each end of the memory module connector.

Grasp the module and pull up.

If the module is difficult to remove, gently ease the module back and forth to remove it from the connector.

68 Removing and Installing Parts

Cards

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity

from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

Your Dell™ computer provides the following slots for PCI and PCI Express cards:

• Two PCI card slots

• One PCI Express x1 card slot

PCI card

PCI Express x1 card

PCI Express x1 card slot

If you are installing or replacing an expansion card, follow the procedures in the next section. If you are removing but not replacing an expansion card, see "Removing an Expansion Card" on page 72.

If you are replacing a card, remove the current driver for the card from the operating system.

Removing and Installing Parts 69

Installing an Expansion Card

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

release tab

card retention door

alignment bar

alignment guide

filler bracket

Gently push the release tab on the inside of the card retention door to pivot the door open. Because the door is captive, it will remain in the open position.

If you are installing a new card, remove the filler bracket to create a card-slot opening. Then continue with step 5.

If you are replacing a card that is already installed in the computer, remove the card.

If necessary, disconnect any cables connected to the card. Grasp the card by its top corners, and ease it out of its connector.

Prepare the card for installation.

See the documentation that came with the card for information on configuring the card, making internal connections, or otherwise customizing it for your computer.

CAUTION: Some network adapters automatically start the computer when they are connected to a

network. To guard against electrical shock, be sure to unplug your computer from its electrical outlet before installing any cards.

Place the card in the connector and press down firmly. Ensure that the card is fully seated in the slot.

70 Removing and Installing Parts

not fully seated card

bracket

within slot fully seated card

alignment guide

bracket caught outside of slot

alignment bar

Before you close the card retention door, ensure that:

• The tops of all cards and filler brackets are flush with the alignment bar.

• The notch in the top of the card or filler bracket fits around the alignment guide.

release tab

card retention door

Removing and Installing Parts 71

Close the card retention door by snapping it into place.

NOTICE: Do not route card cables over or behind the cards. Cables routed over the cards can prevent

the computer cover from closing properly or cause damage to the equipment.

Connect any cables that should be attached to the card.

See the documentation for the card for information about the card’s cable connections.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device, and then plug

it into the computer.

Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.

If you installed a sound card:

Enter system setup, select

Audio Controller

, and then change the setting to

Off

page 103).

Connect external audio devices to the sound card’s connectors. Do not connect external audio devices to the microphone, speaker/headphone, or line-in connectors on the back panel.

If you installed an add-in network adapter and want to disable the integrated network adapter:

Enter system setup, select

Network Controller,

and then change the setting to

Off

page 103).

Connect the network cable to the add-in network adapter’s connectors. Do not connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel.

Install any drivers required for the card as described in the card documentation.

(see

Removing an Expansion Card

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Gently push the release tab on the card retention door from the inside to pivot the door open. Because the door is captive, it will remain in the open position.

If you are removing the card permanently, install a filler bracket in the empty card-slot opening.

If you need a filler bracket, contact Dell (see page 114).

NOTE: Installing filler brackets over empty card-slot openings is necessary to maintain FCC certification

of the computer. The brackets also keep dust and dirt out of your computer.

Close the card retention door by snapping it into place to secure the cards.

72 Removing and Installing Parts

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device, and then plug

it into the computer.

Replace the computer cover, reconnect the computer and devices to electrical outlets, and then turn them on.

Remove the card’s driver from the operating system.

If you removed a sound card:

Enter system setup, select

Audio Controller

, and then change the setting to On (see

page 103).

Connect external audio devices to the audio connectors on the back panel of the computer.

If you removed an add-in network connector:

Enter system setup, select

Network Controller

, and then change the setting to On (see

page 103).

Connect the network cable to the integrated connector on the back panel of the computer.

Drive Panels

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet

before removing the cover.

Removing and Installing Parts 73

Removing the Drive Panel

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

sliding plate lever

sliding plate

drive panel

Grasp the sliding plate lever and push it towards the base of the computer until the drive panel snaps open.

NOTE: This sliding plate secures and releases the drive panel and helps to secure the drives.

Pivot the drive panel outward and lift it from its side hinges.

Set the drive panel aside in a secure location.

74 Removing and Installing Parts

Removing the Drive-Panel Insert

drive panel

drive-panel insert

Remove the drive panel.

Press the drive-panel insert latch inwards to unlatch it from the drive panel.

Pivot the drive-panel insert out and away from the drive panel.

Set the drive-panel insert aside in a secure location.

Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert

drive-panel insert latch

drive panel

drive-panel insert latch

drive-panel insert tab

center drive-panel tab

Slide the drive-panel insert tab under the center drive-panel tab.

Rotate the drive-panel insert into place and snap the drive-panel insert latch over the

drive-panel insert

corresponding tab on the drive panel.

Removing and Installing Parts 75

Replacing the Drive Panel

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

sliding plate lever

sliding plate

drive panel

Align the drive panel tabs with the side-door hinges.

Rotate the drive panel toward the computer until it snaps into place on the front panel.

Grasp the sliding plate lever and pull it towards the top of the computer, snapping it into the closed position to secure the drive panel.

Drives

Your computer supports a combination of these devices:

• Up to two serial ATA hard drives

• One FlexBay drive (floppy drive or Media Card Reader)

• Up to two CD or DVD drives

76 Removing and Installing Parts

CD/DVD drive(s)

FlexBay for optional floppy drive or Media Card Reader

hard drive

bay for second hard drive (optional)

Connect CD/DVD drives to the connector labeled "IDE" on the system board. Serial ATA hard drives should be connected to the connectors labeled "SATA0" or "SATA1" on the system board.

IDE Drive Addressing

When you connect two IDE devices to a single IDE interface cable and configure them for the cable select setting, the device attached to the last connector on the interface cable is the master or boot device (drive 0), and the device attached to the middle connector on the interface cable is the slave device (drive 1). See the drive documentation in your upgrade kit for information on configuring devices for the cable select setting.

Connecting Drive Cables

When you install a drive, you connect two cables—a DC power cable and a data cable—to the back of the drive and to the system board.

Removing and Installing Parts 77

Drive Interface Connectors

Most interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled-in hole on the other connector. Keyed connectors ensure that the pin-1 wire in the cable (indicated by the colored stripe along one edge of the IDE cable—serial ATA cables do not use a colored stripe) goes to the pin-1 end of the connector. The pin-1 end of a connector on a board or a card is usually indicated by a silk-screened “1” printed directly on the board or card.

NOTICE: When you connect an IDE interface cable, do not place the colored stripe away from pin 1 of

the connector. Reversing the cable prevents the drive from operating and could damage the controller, the drive, or both.

Serial ATA Connector

interface cable

interface connector

Power Cable Connector

To connect a drive using the power cable, locate the power input connector on the system board.

78 Removing and Installing Parts

power cable

power input connector

Connecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables

When removing an IDE drive data cable, grasp the colored pull tab and pull until the connector detaches.

When connecting and disconnecting a serial ATA data cable, hold the cable by the black connector at each end.

Like IDE connectors, the serial ATA interface connectors are keyed for correct insertion; that is, a notch or a missing pin on one connector matches a tab or a filled-in hole on the other connector.

Hard Drive

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet

before removing the cover.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a

surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

NOTICE: If you are replacing a hard drive that contains data you want to keep, back up your files before

you begin this procedure.

Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.

Removing and Installing Parts 79

Removing a Hard Drive

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Disconnect the power and hard-drive cables from the drive.

serial ATA data cable

power cable

Press in the blue tabs on each side of the drive towards each other and slide the drive up and out of the computer.

tabs (2)

hard drive

80 Removing and Installing Parts

Installing a Hard Drive

Unpack the replacement hard drive, and prepare it for installation.

Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.

NOTE:

If your replacement hard drive does not have the plastic guide bracket attached, remove the bracket from the old drive by unsnapping it from the drive. Snap the bracket onto the new drive.

drive

bracket rails (2)

Gently slide the drive into place until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.

Connect the power and hard-drive cables to the drive.

Check all connectors to be certain that they are properly cabled and firmly seated.

Replace the computer cover (page 96).

Removing and Installing Parts 81

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device, and then plug

it into the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.

Adding a Second Hard Drive (optional)

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet

before removing the cover.

NOTICE: To avoid damage to the drive, do not set it on a hard surface. Instead, set the drive on a

surface, such as a foam pad, that will sufficiently cushion it.

Check the documentation for the drive to verify that it is configured for your computer.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Remove the plastic guide bracket from the inside of the hard-drive bay by gently pulling the bracket up and out of the bay.

Snap the bracket to the hard drive.

Gently slide the new drive (second hard drive) into place until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.

secondary hard drive in lower bay

primary hard drive in upper bay

Connect a power cable to the drive.

Connect the data cable to the drive and to the system board (see page 65).

82 Removing and Installing Parts

rail tabs (2)

hard drive bay

Floppy Drive

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet

before removing the cover.

NOTE: If you are adding a floppy drive, see "Installing a Floppy Drive" on page 85.

Removing a Floppy Drive

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Remove the drive panel (see page 74).

power cable

data cable

Removing and Installing Parts 83

Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the floppy drive.

Grasp the sliding plate lever and push it towards the base of the computer; then, hold it in place while you slide the drive from the computer.

sliding plate lever

sliding plate

floppy drive

84 Removing and Installing Parts

Installing a Floppy Drive

NOTE: In the event that the replacement or new floppy drive does not have the shoulder screws, use the

screws located within the drive panel insert.

drive

screws (4)

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Remove the drive panel (see page 74).

If you are installing a new floppy drive rather than replacing a drive, remove the drive panel insert where you want the drive to be installed, and then attach the shoulder screws located in the back of the drive panel insert to the drive (see page 75).

Gently slide the drive into place until you hear a click or feel the drive securely installed.

Attach the power and data cables to the floppy drive.

Connect the other end of the data cable to the connector labeled "FLOPPY" on the system board (see page 65) and route the cable through the clip on the shroud.

Removing and Installing Parts 85

power cable

data cable

Check all cable connections and fold cables out of the way, to avoid blocking the fan and cooling vents.

Replace the drive panel (see page 76).

Replace the computer cover (see page 96).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network port or device, and then plug

it in to the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.

Enter system setup (see page 103) and select the appropriate

Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see page 51).

86 Removing and Installing Parts

Diskette Drive

option.

Media Card Reader

For information on using the Media Card Reader, see "Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)" on page 20.

Removing a Media Card Reader

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity

from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Remove the drive panel (see page 74).

cable

*Media Card Reader

Not present on all computers.

Removing and Installing Parts 87

Disconnect the USB cable on the back of the Media Card Reader from the FlexBay USB connector on the system board (see page 65) and route the cable through the clip on the shroud.

sliding plate lever

sliding plate

Media Card Reader

Grasp the sliding plate lever and push it towards the base of the computer; then, hold it in place while you slide the Media Card Reader from the computer.

Replace the drive panel (see page 76).

Replace the computer cover (see page 96).

88 Removing and Installing Parts

Installing a Media Card Reader

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity

from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Media Card Reader

screws

Remove the drive panel (see page 74).

Remove the Media Card Reader and bracket from its packaging.

Gently slide the Media Card Reader (which should not yet be connected to the FlexBay cable) into place until you hear a click or feel the Media Card Reader is securely installed.

Connect the USB cable on the back of the Media Card Reader to the front panel USB connector on the system board (see page 65).

Connect the FlexBay USB cable to the back of the Media Card Reader.

Removing and Installing Parts 89

FlexBay cable

Media Card Reader

Route the USB cable through the cable routing clip.

Replace the computer cover (see page 96).

CD/DVD Drive

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

CAUTION: To guard against electrical shock, always unplug your computer from the electrical outlet

before removing the cover.

90 Removing and Installing Parts

Removing a CD/DVD Drive

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Remove the drive panel (see page 74).

Disconnect the power and data cables from the back of the CD/DVD drive.

data cable

power cable

Removing and Installing Parts 91

Grasp the sliding plate lever and push it towards the base of the computer; then, hold it in place while you slide the CD/DVD drive from the computer.

sliding plate lever

sliding plate

CD/DVD drive

Installing a CD/DVD Drive

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

If you are installing a new CD/DVD drive rather than replacing a CD/DVD drive, remove the drive-panel insert (see page 75).

92 Removing and Installing Parts

Gently slide the drive into place until you hear a click or feel the CD/DVD drive securely installed.

drive

screws

Removing and Installing Parts 93

Connect the power and data cables to the drive.

data cable

power cable

Check all cable connections, and fold cables out of the way to avoid blocking the fan and cooling vents.

Replace the computer cover (see page 96).

Replace the drive panel (see page 76).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable in to the network port or device, and then plug

it in to the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to their electrical outlets, and turn them on.

See the documentation that came with the drive for instructions on installing any software required for drive operation.

Enter system setup (see page 103) and select the appropriate

Verify that your computer works correctly by running the Dell Diagnostics (see page 51).

94 Removing and Installing Parts

Drive

option.

Battery

Replacing the Battery

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

NOTICE: To prevent static damage to components inside your computer, discharge static electricity

from your body before you touch any of your computer’s electronic components. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

A coin-cell battery maintains computer configuration, date, and time information. The battery can last several years.

If you have to repeatedly reset time and date information after turning on the computer, replace the battery.

CAUTION: A new battery can explode if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the

same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

To replace the battery:

Record all the screens in system setup (see page 103) so that you can restore the correct settings in step 8.

Follow the procedures in "Before You Begin" on page 57.

Locate the battery socket (see page 65).

NOTICE: If you pry the battery out of its socket with a blunt object, be careful not to touch the system

board with the object. Ensure that the object is inserted between the battery and the socket before you attempt to pry out the battery. Otherwise, you may damage the system board by prying off the socket or by breaking circuit traces on the system board.

Remove the battery by carefully prying it out of its socket with your fingers or with a blunt, nonconducting object such as a plastic screwdriver.

Removing and Installing Parts 95

Insert the new battery into the socket with the side labeled "+" facing up, and snap the battery into place.

battery

battery socket

Replace the computer cover (see page 96).

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device, and then plug

it into the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.

Enter system setup (see page 103) and restore the settings you recorded in step 1.

Properly dispose of the old battery. See the information.

Product Information Guide

for battery disposal

Replacing the Computer Cover

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions

located in the Product Information Guide.

Ensure that all cables are connected, and fold cables out of the way.

Gently pull the power cables toward you so that they do not get caught underneath the drives.

Ensure that no tools or extra parts are left inside the computer.

Align the bottom of the cover with the tabs located along the bottom edge of the computer.

Using the tabs as leverage, rotate the cover downward and close.

Snap the cover into place by pulling back on the cover release latch, and then releasing the latch when the cover is seated.

96 Removing and Installing Parts

Ensure that the cover is seated correctly before setting the computer upright.

NOTICE: To connect a network cable, first plug the cable into the network port or device, and then plug

it into the computer.

Connect your computer and devices to electrical outlets, and turn them on.

Removing and Installing Parts 97

98 Removing and Installing Parts

Dell 3100, E310 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Owner’s Manual

Finding Information

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

Setting Up a Printer

Printer Cable

Connecting a USB Printer

Connecting to the Internet

Setting Up Your Internet Connection

Playing CDs and DVDs

Adjusting the Volume

Adjusting the Picture

Copying CDs and DVDs

How to Copy a CD or DVD

Using Blank CDs and DVDs

Helpful Tips

Using a Media Card Reader (Optional)

Setting Up a Home and Office Network

Connecting to a Network Adapter

Network Setup Wizard

Power Management

Standby Mode

Hibernate Mode

Power Options Properties

About RAID Configurations

Using RAID with Hard Drive Passwords

RAID Level 1

Configuring Your Computer for RAID

Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode

Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel® RAID Option ROM Utility

Configuring Your Computer for RAID Using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager

Hyper-Threading

Solving Problems

Troubleshooting Tips

Battery Problems

Drive Problems

CD and DVD drive problems

Hard drive problems

E-Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems

Error Messages

Media Card Reader Problems

Keyboard Problems

Lockups and Software Problems

The computer does not start up

The computer stops responding

A program stops responding

A program crashes repeatedly

A program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system

A solid blue screen appears

Other software problems

Memory Problems

Mouse Problems

Network Problems

Power Problems

Printer Problems

Scanner Problems

Sound and Speaker Problems

No sound from speakers

No sound from headphones

Video and Monitor Problems

If the screen is blank

If the screen is difficult to read

Advanced Troubleshooting

Diagnostic Lights

Dell Diagnostics

Dell Diagnostics Main Menu

Drivers

What Is a Driver?

Identifying Drivers

Reinstalling Drivers

Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities

Restoring Your Operating System

Using Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore

Using Dell™ PC Restore by Symantec

Removing Dell PC Restore

Removing and Installing Parts

Before You Begin